Implementation of A3 architectural overviews in Lean Product Development Teams; A case study in the Subsea Industry

Abstract

This paper presents a case study investigating the use of A3 Architectural Overviews (A3AOs) in lean product development teams. A3AOs is a tool used in product development and lean manufacturing to increase communication and knowledge sharing across the organization. We studied the implementation in an engineering department of a global oil and gas supplier, by performing a case study and extensive depth interviews. We also studied earlier implementation initiatives of A3s in a thorough literature review. A finding was that, although current and former research have shown clear benefits of utilizing this tool, the company rarely uses it today. We wanted to investigate challenges with creating and implementing A3AO in the organization. Our results show that A3AOs may be a well‐suited tool to improve the requirements handover process within the company. We also make an outline of challenges and benefits with using and implementing A3AOs in the researched engineering department, with the goal to successfully implement A3AOs in the future.

Enabling systems engineering in a new product development process via a tailored A3 architecture overview approach

“…To develop completely new systems (instead of capturing an existing system architecture/knowledge). Earlier initiatives of A3AOs has found clear benefits of A3AOs but it was rarely used today (Løndal & Flak, 2018). By providing this A3AO template and approach not only the approach is applied and evaluated in a short-term research session, after one year the approach is fully embraced and incorporated in the current way of working.…”

“…Earlier research has shown that A3AOs are considered as a good tool to communicate and capture the system architecture (Løndal & Flak, 2018). By using the A3AO most import aspects of the system (architecture) can easily be shared and consumed among stakeholders.…”

Knowledge Reuse in a Small Company in the Water Treatment Industry: A Case Study

“…(Borches 2010) developed A3AOs for systems architecting, but it was stated that the findings also could be implemented to fit other purposes (Borches 2010). (Viken & Muller 2018, Løndal & Falk 2018, Wiulsrød, Muller & Pennotti 2011 found the principles of A3AOs to facilitate communication and knowledge sharing.…”

“…Most A3 focused research papers includes one or more of these elements. (Viken & Muller 2018) included title, author and date, (Løndal & Falk 2018) included title and author, (Svendsen & Haskins 2016) included title, date and author, (Borches 2010) included title and author, (Singh & Muller 2013) included title, author, revision and date. We considered to include author contact information, but decided against it, as the author almost always will be part of the project organization and have his contact information presented in the project organization block.…”

“…The employees are able to navigate and understand the documents included in the KMS by using this model. (Nilsen & Muller 2013) presented a map that could be used to understand the relationship between a set of A3s and (Løndal & Falk 2018) a block to list relevant documents.…”